A quiet night

Rest in your unforced rhythm of rest
I reallie like this article on telling us how to REST and be silent for a moment in our day. We are always so caught up with the mundane and endless tasks work which we have to do that we never have time to pause and listen to our heart or more importantly for me to have a conversation with the lord.
Well, i get to do that ever since i am here. I guess i am not working now. Have pretty much time to myself to reflect and read god's word which is a pleasure. i enjoy the peace, the sensation of connecting to the spiritual father, the feeling of not being able to rush and definitely the inner reflection of my life principles and priorities. I thank god for this time and believe with all my heart that he is preparing me for a greater works in the time to come. meanwhile, patience for me and the R family ......
http://www.crosswalk.com/faith/devotionals/encouragement/

Barnes and Nobles
I love this place.i can spend my whole afternoon in this heavenly place which has all genres of books that kept my braincells activated the whole day. i say you ask for it and they have it.Ranging, from war,history,astronomy,home furnishing,pets, fiction,non-fiction,pyschology,religion,gardening, music, art, entertainment....whole lots of collection for you to explore and to indulge yourself in that pitless world of knowledge.I love to learn and constantly keep myself intellectually stimulated. I wish i find this place earlier and i will not spend some days idling ard and lamenting.Is my new hangout .with a cuppa in one hand and a favourite magazine or book on the other, somebody has to keep the time for me.

Ernesto
Is so chilly. I haven smell the rain for quite a while. A good break from the summer sun but yet scary.The wind is howling and the sky is grey and dull all day . People stayed in and is souless on the street. Somehow , it seemed like the devil is here. Nobody dares to move and you can sense that tension in the air. Ernesto is here.The tropical thunderstorm has hit the Carolinas. Hopefully not another Katrina which swirled and killed tons. I stayed at home, praying it will subside, so that i can prance around the golf course during the weekends once again.

Golfing fun!

Time to end off the game with beautiful sunset

I am diligently keeping the score!

Though i am not in the game,i enjoy being the driver and picking up balls

I am the bugee driver.Very happy at the course! Taking a swing.Still don't look that right.

Ron taking a swing at the range

okies, i dunnoe why after i type the msg and try to upload the pictures.They just don't appear.Okies here are they with regrds to the entries earlier.

Weekend sum up

This weekend was very fun and fulfilling. I learn that we have to step out and get to know people and constantly engaged ourselves in activities .If we constantly stayed at home,We can get quite down at times ,don't we? SO i thank god for all these wonderful mini discoveries we made.

Thursday:
Felt accomplished finishing my book on "Challenges dealing with difficult children in early childhood enviroment"At least, i felt updated despite not working now.Ron made my day by buying FLOWERSSSSSSSSSSSSS for me.Very thrilled coz i just mentioned to him that he has been getting less romantic recently.Anyway ,i am very amused that he bought Chrysanthemum despite knowing my favourite flowers.took a picture of the flowers and those he bought for me last year when i am here. The roses still look lovely. Chrysanthemum looked just like those found on the altars.
ANyway, another thing to be thrilled was i bought a book on" A tale of two city".trying to know more on London and French revolution now since we are heading to the cities.

Friday:
Went out to have Mexican food with Kelvin,his brother from NYC and Miruim and Jesse from Eucardo.Still feel a bit edgy about meeting people but tries to make conversation despite that and it turns out Jesse is a very funny man and Mirium has very nice disposition.

Saturday,
Very happy. I am in high spirits whole day. mainly, i finally try golfing.Took my first lesson from Ron in the driving range.It was terribly hot but i enjoyed the game. It required lots of focus and yet you cannot be too rigid about it.Simply relaxed and made the swing. Ron said I was pretty good for the first time.Yeah!!!Because i hit most of the balls .I observed and try to learn the techniques.I think when i am back from London ,i will take up professional lessons.
Guess what, came back and rest. At about 5pm, we hit off to the golf course with kelvin and gang.Gosh, this excites me even more. I reallie love walking at the golf course coz is so peaceful. And golf in way is a very individual game.You have full control of very stroke you make

Sunday:
Attended a BBQ held by the Christian Business Fellowship In Fuqua.Signed up myself in the weekly woman's bible study group. I am very thrilled to be in fellowship with them and there i made a korean fren who was a first year.And i gave so much advice to her regarding my stay so far.i never thought i can be an encouragement to others since i am trying to adjust myself to a new enviroment now.Thank god for using me .

Dim Sum never fails no matter where you are

Hey when have i become spg??No lah, is cousin-in-law ,Steve!!!Don't hv any ideas on him gals
I look like a man here!!!!!!!!got moustache!eeks
On our way for a great Dim Sum Treat in NYC .This restaurant was closed down for health reasons!!!!Eeeks!!!!But their food is great!Seemed like we cannot be too picky.:)

The R's family verse

Psalms 127:1, “Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is useless. Unless the LORD protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.” (NIV)

Is all about god and not us in whatever we do.I chose a special scripture that becames a family verse for the R's Loft and it shall be nicely engraved on a plaque in the future. Meanwhile it will be neatly written on a decorative paper ,pasted on one of the mirrors in the bathroom.

“Blessed is the [family] who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But [their] delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law [they] meditate day and night. [Each] is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever [they] do prospers.” (Psalm 1:1:3)

God's creation is beautiful

Enjoying the beautiful scenary of the Falls
having our lunch by the whirlpool after hiking for five hours in GorgeTrail
Horseshoe Falls from Canadian side
Very happy to see this nice and complete arched rainbow in the maid of the midst ride. Good sign from heaven that good things are lying ahead
The majestic American Falls

rapids from niagara falls Check out more photos on my multiply site!!

Long island-Johnson Beach

the beach is crowded during summer and the gang is all ready to get themselves a gd tan!!
Here they are,Carol and Steve enjoying themselves!!! Ron, the beach bum is enjoying his fantasy book again!With all those chips and Coke,is time for him to hit the gym!

A Carribbean black man

Have been missing my dad and family quite alot lately.Have dreams about them, wonder what are they doing and hope that i can be back to see them. I think i am missing home. And has only been three weeks since I came here.Gosh.

Interestingly,i made a friend who came from Carribbean in the computer room today. He was a doctor practising somewhere near Princeton University.He started talking to me first ( i am wary though coz you know America has all sort of weird people around)Nevertheless, the conversation went on smoothly and for THREE hours.I thought i must have been out of my mind . I am supposed to plan for our trip to London and nothing has been done. Anyway, he seemed pretty nice and offered lots of tips on the courses to take,the culture ,the cheapest airlines you can take and stuff like that.

The conversation went on until he revealed some personal stuff to me. And knowing that i am a Christian, we began to talk about GOD.He told me about his spritual walk and some of the persecutions he faced from his family because he was so consumed by vanity.He confessed that he has been caught up in making more money,having the biggest house and nicest car and just simply being the best.He felt he was not able to commit to god because of all these desires.
I told him that god knows he has heart and is still always with him even when he is drawn away. when time is ready, he will be ready and know all these are riches are from GOD and not from his own effort. And till then, he will be spiritually enlightened and touched and go back to Church again. What an intimate exchange on the heavenly father when somebody walked in and he stopped his conversation with me.

Well ,he gave me his email address and his apartment unit.I am not sure if i will write to him but definitely send him some Christian articles to bless him.

Beautiful Falls

So excited to write my entry from Niagara Falls now. Our second nite here and I must say we were so glad that we came here for a vacation. Niagara Falls was magnificent and breathe taking and it just made you wonder how god has created this beautiful creation.

We have visited most of the sights and we enjoyed “Maid of the Mist” and “Cave of the winds” tremendously. The former was a cruise ride which took us direct underneath the falls. We saw beautiful rainbows in the mist in the Horseshoe Falls and the American Falls. That was my first time seeing completed arched rainbow, with all the colours distinctively dispersed from the light.

The latter was a short trail which led us near the falls. We were all drenched as the water kept pouring at us at high speed .My teeth were chattering as it was night time. That made the trail walk even more exciting and adventurous. The Falls was equally beautiful at night as it was illuminated.

Today, we went for the Devil’s Hole trail. Goodness, I thought that was an easy trail but it turned out to be difficult for me with some major boulder hopping along the way. It ended up to be a 5 hours hike instead of 3hours because my dear sandals failed me halfway. The trail also took us to the Whirlpool State Park where there were beautiful rapids. I felt so relaxed and recharged. I love hiking. It really took your mind off !!!
I wonder what ‘s up for us tomorrow . We were quite ahead of our initial planned itinery.

Lord, I cannot ,But You can!

Philippians 2:1313For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.


Have you ever tried to break a bad habit on your own? You probably found that when you tried to stop it by sheer will power, you saw improvements for a while, and then bounced back to square one. Worse, you found yourself binging on the very thing that you were trying not to do. And your condition is worse than before you started your “I’m going to quit” programme!
The changes were temporary because it was you doing it.

A church member who had been a chain-smoker used to believe that with will power, he could quit smoking. He would tell himself, “If there is a will, there is a way!” But he discovered that with will power, he could stop smoking for a week or two, and then he would succumb to the pull of nicotine again.

When he turned his life over to God and learnt about God’s grace, he told God, “I realise that I cannot stop smoking. I cannot, but You can, Lord.” And every time he lit up, he would say, “Lord, I am trying to stop smoking, but I cannot. I am trusting You.” He would even say, “I am still righteous because of Jesus’ blood.”

Well, in the same year, all his cravings to smoke vanished! When asked how he succeeded, he would say, “It is entirely God, none of me! It is all by His grace.” This man completely lost all desire to smoke. That is true transformation.

When you receive the grace of God to do for you what you cannot do, you will experience effortless and permanent change on the inside, which in turn changes your actions on the outside. The Bible tells us that God works in us to give us both the will and ability to perform what He desires. (Philippians 2:13) God removes the old want to’s and gives us new ones. And He even gives us the power to carry them out!

So look to His grace to do what you cannot do. Say, “Lord, I cannot, but You can!” Then, what you experience will not just merely be behaviour modification, but true and lasting inward transformation!

Planned Itinery for the weekends-Niagara

Arrival on 11/8/2006 Friday evening. Check in and rest.

First Day: 12/8/2006 Saturday

1) Start at the Visitor Center on Prospect Pointo Pick up a park map. o Purchase a Passport to the Falls and save up to 30% on the attractions in and around the park. o Catch a showing of "Niagara: A History of the Falls" at the Festival Theater.( $2)o Stroll through the Great Lakes Garden.o Explore Prospect Point. Follow tree-shaded pathways along the American Falls and American Rapids.
Lunch at Prospect Point café.

2) Head to the Observation Tower ($1)o From Prospect Point it's a short walk to the Observation Tower for another great view.o Take the elevator to the Maid of the Mist. Get on board for the ride of your life. (US 11.50)
The world famous Maid of the Mist cruises right to the base of the American Falls, then to the basin of the magnificent Horseshoe Falls. It's a fantastic journey through crashing waters, surrounded by massive rock formations that have tamed the raging rapids for millions of years.
o Then walk to the Crow's Nest close to the boulders at the base of the American Falls.o Board the Niagara Scenic Trolley to go to the Aquarium of Niagara.( 9am to 7pm) ($7.50)

4) Falls Ilumination or check out casinos where there are summer concerts at Fallsview Casino Resort Avalon Ballroom Chris Issak or cirque niagara
Excursion fees: $44 approx

Second Day: 13/8/2006 Sunday

1) Visit Luna Islando Ride the Niagara Scenic Trolley to Goat Island. o Follow the wooded trail to Luna Island between the Bridal Veil Falls and American Falls.

2) Explore the Cave of the Wind ( $10 dollars)
The Cave of the Winds trip takes you closer to the waters of Niagara Falls than you thought possible. You ride an elevator 175 feet (53 meters) deep into the Niagara Gorge. Then, clad in a bright yellow poncho and wearing the special footwear provided, you follow a tour guide over a series of wooden walkways to the famous "Hurricane Deck". As you stand at the railing, you are a mere 20 feet (6 meters) from the billowing torrents of Bridal Veil Falls. The rushing waters loom above you, dousing you with a generous spray as you face the thundering Falls head-on. Rainbows are usually visible day and night. Everyone can experience the sights of Niagara Falls. A deck has been built 150 feet from the base of the Falls especially designed for handicapped and adults with children in arms.o Take the bridge back to Goat Island to the Cave of the Winds for a wet and wild adventure at the base of the Bridal Veil Falls.

3) Lunch Timeo Continue along the pathways to Top of the Falls restaurant, for lunch. o From there, you can go to Terrapin Point, to view Horseshoe Falls.
o Continue on to view the Horseshoe Rapids at the side of the path.

4) Then ride the Niagara Scenic Trolley to Three Sisters Islands. o Explore the footpaths with spectacular views of the rapids.

5) Fireworks at 10pm/ Falls Illumination

Excursion fees: $20 approx

Third Day: 14/8/2006 Monday
On your third day, explore the Niagara region. Hiking Mainly.
Niagara Gorge Trailhead & Hike Center
New in 2003, the Niagara Gorge Trailhead Building, is the gateway to some of the greatest hiking, walking and cycling trails the area has to offer. Hike, walk, run or bike along the Robert Moses Parkway Trail, a multi-use trail that follows the Niagara Gorge past Whirlpool State Park and Devil's Hole State Park to the Robert Moses Power Plant and the New York Power Authority Visitor Center. Hikers can access the Gorge Rim Trail, the Scenic Overlook Trail and the Great Gorge Railway Trail from the Trailhead Building.

Four guided hikes are offered during the summer season.
Great Gorge Scenic Overlook Hike - Begins at the Trailhead Building and is an easy one hour hike. Age Requirement: None. Fee $2.00/ each*.
Upper Great Gorge Hike - Begins at the Trailhead Building and follows the Great Gorge Railway Trail for an easy two-hour hike. Age Requirement: None. Fee $3.00/ each*.
Devil's Hole Rapids and Giant Rock - Begins at Devil's Hole State Park and is a moderate level two-hour hike. Register at the Trailhead Building. Age Requirement: Ages 8 and over only. Fee $5.00/ each*.
Whirlpool Rapids Adventure Hike - Begins at Whirlpool State Park and is a difficult three-hour hike, including some boulder hopping. Age Requirement: Ages 8 and over only. Fee $7.00/ each*.
*Group Rates Available
If you choose to hike the Niagara Gorge Trail System, be prepared. It includes steep stairs and rocks to climb over. Sturdy footwear is recommended. Call the Trailhead Building at (716) 278-1780 or the Niagara Region Park Interpretive Programs Office (Monday-Friday) at (716) 745-7848 for information, times and reservations.

Fourth day: 15/8/2006 Tuesday
Breakfast and depart at 9am. Back home in NYC by evening.:)

Estimated Budget for 2 pax :
1) Petrol Fees: $150 per couple
2) Accomodation :$290 per couple
3) Pass: $50 ( better to get this since provide unlimited rides in the park)
4) Meals ( Lunch And Dinner): Estimated 150 dollars for 3 days
5) Excursion fees: $140 ( if you choose not to buy the pass with conservative account of the rides on the trolley )

Total:$780 approximate.
Let’s have fun together.

Check out Billy Graham

There are many things that I don't understand," he says. He does not believe that Christians need to take every verse of the Bible literally; "sincere Christians," he says, "can disagree about the details of Scripture and theology—absolutely." And he is an old man who loved the life he led and acknowledges that aging and facing the prospect of death are things he has only recently come to embrace. "I can't say that I like the fact that I can't do everything I once did," he says, "but more than ever, as I read my Bible and pray and spend time with my wife, I see each day as a gift from God, and we can't take that gift for granted."

I am so touched when i read this.Check out the life of Billy Graham at this link.It is so important to see each day as a GIFT from god.How many of us have taken that for granted?

LONG weekend at LONG island

Carol and Steve were here over the weekend and we had great fun with them. We brought them around in CHinatown to have nice seafood dinner and dim sum .Then on Saturday, we decided to be a little more adventurous and drove out to Long Island to hang out in the beach.
I am glad that we made that decision coz it will be a waste if we do not hang out at the beach during summer.

So it was supposedly to be an hour drive to Jones Beach but it turned out to be 3 hours with the traffic jams along the highways. Well all was worthwhile coz Jones was such a beautiful place. The beach has 6.5 miles of ocean beach, one-half mile of bay beach for stillwater bathing, and two swimming pools. Many people were there and you would be amazed how everyone was enjoying the sun despite the weather was showing a high 120F. So basically all of us were just lying on our beach towels, read books,munching fruities,admiring the beautiful scenary and for me----babe watching. We went and swam in the waters and they were so cold coz they were from the Alantic Ocean.

I really have great fun that day even though was just plain lazing at the beach. I haven't does this for quite a while

Heat wave is crazy and the dinner is even crazier

Well the heat wave is killing me. I wish i can stay at home all day but i need to make a trip to the city to meet my friend for lunch. Now within seconds out in the sun, i am all baked,like salmon or probably not,like a charred piece of meat. Everyone is breaking out and the subways is the last place where you want to go.They seemed like hot ovens !

Anyway had a nice korean meal,good conversation and realised that it is so important to have some social interactions .I felt reallie great and alive after being cooped up at home for the past few days. BF was right. It is better for me to go out to explore instead of staying at home.

I met him in the evening and he told me he went for a DJ training workshop. I said," what's that got to do with trading?" He said:" Just have some fun to wind down after the summer internship."Then,he told me that he din realised that he was supposed to have dinner with these people and now they were looking for him.I told him to look for them and i would go back myself. After struggling for a while, he thought it was not right to leave me alone so after checking with the rest ,he brought me along with him for the dinner.

Guess what,well this is probably the last thing which i wanted to do!!!!I knew nobody and they would be talking about business and this woman would be seen like some idiot sitting beside her man,like some sticky peas!!!!Besides, i am dressed like a kid ---with a tank top and a short skirt and flip flops......pretty underdressed with a group of businessman in suits and ties. SO as i made my entrance, i was treated like some VIP,everybody stood up and introduced themselves. I wasn't embarrased but puzzled about the way I was received.Later ,did i realised that the big guy was there. And since he stood up to introduce himself , the rest ( wanting to impress) followed suit. Well BF told me later that this was the nicest treatment you would ever receive from them.They would be pretty nasty to you at work.

Gosh,so there i was..observing the whole night how the conversation runned over the table...pretty interesting and eye-opening expereince for me.I thought it was so interesting to observe how different people behaved and the verbal and non verbal cues they gave. A few pretty interesting people whom i made conversations with.

Anyway,BF was pretty quiet throughout the dinner and I asked if he was alright. He said he was just chilling and would voice out necessarily.I realised he was reallie a listener even in social settings by the comments he made. Thank god for that..coz urhammmm..you know sometimes i can be quite a talker.

Well so dinner ended ard ten plus, we took a ferry back home. It was a moonlit night.Perfect setting with the beautiful Manhantten skyline.Manhatten looked so much prettier at night.

Do what god want you to do

One good thing about the programmes over here,sermons from famous preachers such as Joyce Meyer,Benny Hinns are shown on the TV.

I have a great day started out by listening to such an encouraging one that i couldn't stop saying" halleluiah","Amen" all alone at home.

Meyer said that we had to enjoy living "TODAY" and stop worrying about TOMMOROW.What a basic truth and yet if you are not constantly reminded of that ,you will be easily enstrangled in the daily struggles. God will start releasing power onto you if you seek him and have him as your priority in life.Live by faith and not by sight.Do not be affected by the external cirumstances around you. Cast all your cares upon him coz he is almighty and in control.

Sometimes when people asked you this:" So what are you gonna do with this problem?"
"What are you gonna do after this job?"
"What are you gonna do after this breakup?"
"What are you gonna do if you dun get this promotion?"
"What are you gonna do now since you offended your boss,colleagues?"
So many ," What are you gonna do....?"


You know what, i do not know if this is true for you,but for me at times, i really have no idea on how to handle certain situations.I just have this quiet trust in my heart that my lord will take care of everything.I do not know what is lying ahead ,the uncertainties got me anxious at times,but i will just pray and let him know my worries,my anxiety and you know what,i do not know what i am gonna to do, but GOD will let me know what i am gonna do!!
Amen!